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First continuous and scalable ambient pathway to electrically conductive plastics
Electrically conductive plastics, also known as conjugated polymers, bring many cutting-edge benefits for flexible sensors, medical devices, energy-storage systems and more. They are currently produced at relatively small volumes and come with extremely high prices. A novel technology discovered at…
CO2-utilization technology makes renewable acrylonitrile
Nearly all of the currently produced building-block chemical acrylonitrile (AN) results from the ammoxidation of propylene, a process that requires precise heat control and generates several toxic side products, such as hydrogen cyanide. The startup company Mars Materials (Houston, Tex.;…
Advanced Mixing Technologies for Efficient Lithium Processing
In lithium processing, advanced mixing technologies — applied across the crystallization, carbonization and decomposition steps — can serve as critical enablers in meeting efficiency, scalability and sustainability demands Lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) is a key raw material in the production of…
Facts At Your Fingertips: Solids Drying Mechanisms and Material Properties
Drying can be defined as the vaporization and removal of liquids from a solution, suspension or other solid-liquid mixture to form a dry solid. Drying occurs as a result of the vaporization of liquid by supplying heat to wet solid…
Improving Level Measurement for Solids
Selecting the right technology to ensure accurate and reliable level measurement can help solve the unique challenges posed by storing and processing solid materials Advanced measurement solutions are helping to enhance process control, operational efficiency and safety throughout the chemical…
MOF story shows science’s strengths
In October, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize for chemistry to three pioneers who were instrumental in the development of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Richard Robson (University of Melbourne; www.unimelb.edu.au), Susumu Kitagawa (Kyoto University; www.kyoto-u.ac.jp and…
“Chemical sorting” process improves separation rate of solid contaminants from automotive waste
Processes to reuse plastics from end-of-life vehicles are complicated by solid contaminants — including pre-embedded metal and rubber components of different sizes and reinforcing glass fiber. Currently, recycling solids-containing waste-plastic parts is accomplished by physical sorting processes. Honda (Tokyo, Japan;…
Novel electrolyzer reshapes power conversion and efficiency for green-hydrogen production
Eliminating the traditional electrolyte from electrolysis, a new electrolyzer design is aiming for higher efficiencies and lower costs in green hydrogen production. Tobe Energy (Oklahoma City, Okla.; www.tobe.energy) has developed a high-voltage all-stainless-steel electrolysis system that operates at much lower…
Focus On: Industrial Housekeeping
A hazardous-materials storage system with climate control The WHS hazardous-material storage system (photo) features intelligent air conditioning to combat extreme weather, and to allow storage of substances that must be stored under precise temperature conditions. The integrated heating and cooling…
Recycling automotive shredder residue and bio-waste into high-value feedstock
A new research study by ETH Zurich (www.ethz.ch), in collaboration with BASF SE (Ludwigshafen, Germany), has investigated an alternative route for mixed plastic waste streams from end-of-life vehicles: to recycle it alongside biomass. The results show: the recycling of one…